Experts on Viking or Old Norse mythology and theory from around the world are gathering in Aberdeen for a major conference.
The University of Aberdeen's Centre for Scandinavian Studies is hosting the two-day event from Thursday.
It is thought it could change the understanding of gods, including Thor the god of thunder, and goddesses.
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Monday, 26 October 2009
Thursday, 22 October 2009
Viking experts set to gather at varsity
VIKING experts from across the world will gather at Aberdeen University today to rewrite the history of Norse mythology.
The university’s Centre for Scandinavian Studies is hosting a two-day international conference to explore new ways of looking at the subject.
Researchers say a fresh approach to written sources, place names and archaeology could change our view of the old Norse deities, including the famous god of thunder, Thor.
Scandinavian studies Professor Stefan Brink, said that re-interpretations of 13th-century sources and the old Norse poems were opening up the discipline.
Read the rest of this article...
The university’s Centre for Scandinavian Studies is hosting a two-day international conference to explore new ways of looking at the subject.
Researchers say a fresh approach to written sources, place names and archaeology could change our view of the old Norse deities, including the famous god of thunder, Thor.
Scandinavian studies Professor Stefan Brink, said that re-interpretations of 13th-century sources and the old Norse poems were opening up the discipline.
Read the rest of this article...
Monday, 19 October 2009
Archaeologists may have unearthed beer hall of ancient Viking kings in Denmark
Archaeologists have unearthed a large mud building in Denmark, which may have been a cult place or beer hall of the ancient Viking kings.
According to a report in The Copenhagen Post, the hall, 48 metres long and seven metres across, overlooks the site of a Viking palace unearthed in 1986 in what is an historic area of Denmark.
“We are sure we have found a royal building of some sort,” said Tom Christensen, curator of Roskilde Museum at the time.
“The odd thing about the site is that it is littered with bits and pieces of exquisite golden jewellery, glass and bronze broaches, high quality artifacts, such as drinking glasses and ceramics, which all seem to have been deliberately smashed in some ritual,” he added.
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According to a report in The Copenhagen Post, the hall, 48 metres long and seven metres across, overlooks the site of a Viking palace unearthed in 1986 in what is an historic area of Denmark.
“We are sure we have found a royal building of some sort,” said Tom Christensen, curator of Roskilde Museum at the time.
“The odd thing about the site is that it is littered with bits and pieces of exquisite golden jewellery, glass and bronze broaches, high quality artifacts, such as drinking glasses and ceramics, which all seem to have been deliberately smashed in some ritual,” he added.
Read the rest of this article...
Ancient cult of the Viking kings
Could a large mud building unearthed in Lejre have been a cult place or beer hall of the ancient Viking kings?
The hall, 48 metres long and seven metres across, overlooks the site of a Viking palace unearthed in 1986 in what is an historic area of Denmark.
‘We are sure we have found a royal building of some sort,’ said Tom Christensen, curator of Roskilde Museum at the time. ‘The odd thing about the site is that it is littered with bits and pieces of exquisite golden jewellery, glass and bronze broaches, high quality artifacts, such as drinking glasses and ceramics, which all seem to have been deliberately smashed in some ritual.’
‘There is also a huge pile of cooking stones from primitive ovens. This was obviously a place frequented by the upper classes of the Iron Age. Maybe it was some sort of beer hall or a sacred site where cult or religious activities were carried out. The building’s post holes are over a metre deep, so it must have been an impressive construction,’ said Christensen.
Read the rest of this article...
The hall, 48 metres long and seven metres across, overlooks the site of a Viking palace unearthed in 1986 in what is an historic area of Denmark.
‘We are sure we have found a royal building of some sort,’ said Tom Christensen, curator of Roskilde Museum at the time. ‘The odd thing about the site is that it is littered with bits and pieces of exquisite golden jewellery, glass and bronze broaches, high quality artifacts, such as drinking glasses and ceramics, which all seem to have been deliberately smashed in some ritual.’
‘There is also a huge pile of cooking stones from primitive ovens. This was obviously a place frequented by the upper classes of the Iron Age. Maybe it was some sort of beer hall or a sacred site where cult or religious activities were carried out. The building’s post holes are over a metre deep, so it must have been an impressive construction,’ said Christensen.
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Wednesday, 14 October 2009
The Arctic before Inuit
An archeologist from the Canadian Museum of Civilization was in Kimmirut in September, studying ancient sites and sharing what she has learned with the people who inherited the land.
Patricia Sutherland, the museum's curator of Arctic archeology, has been in and out of Kimmirut for years, following up on local discoveries which have interested researchers since the 1960s.
"People seem to be very excited about what's going on and the results so far," she said. "I try to take information back to the community.
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Patricia Sutherland, the museum's curator of Arctic archeology, has been in and out of Kimmirut for years, following up on local discoveries which have interested researchers since the 1960s.
"People seem to be very excited about what's going on and the results so far," she said. "I try to take information back to the community.
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Saturday, 10 October 2009
Rune stone from 400 AD discovered in southern Norway
Experts are now examining a unique rune stone dating back to around 400 AD, discovered in a garden in the city of Mandal in Southern Norway a week ago. The find may also contain a grave, reports Norway Post.
This is the first rune stone discovered in Norway since 1947, and the find is described as a sensation by the experts.
There are several lines of runes cut into the face of the stone, but it seems the style of writing is a bit different from earlier finds, and more difficult to desipher.
Read the rest of this article...
This is the first rune stone discovered in Norway since 1947, and the find is described as a sensation by the experts.
There are several lines of runes cut into the face of the stone, but it seems the style of writing is a bit different from earlier finds, and more difficult to desipher.
Read the rest of this article...
Thursday, 8 October 2009
A Celebration of Iconic Collections from the Viking World
The 2010 JORVIK Viking Festival will begin with a 25th anniversary conference, celebrating some of the most important developments and iconic artefacts uncovered in the last quarter-century of research into the Viking era. Academics from around the Viking world will gather in York on Saturday 13th February for an entertaining and illuminating look at the past, present and future of Viking studies. With a conference dinner on Saturday evening and a Festival coach tour to see some of Yorkshire's finest Viking-age artefacts on Sunday 14th February.
Speakers already confirmed include Peter Addyman, Richard Hall (Deputy Director, York Archaeological Trust), Patrick Wallace (Director, National Museum of Ireland), Anne-Christine Larsen (Vikingeborgen Trelleborg, Sydvestsjællands Museum, Denmark), Ellen Marie Næss (Museum of Cultural History, University of Oslo) and Anne Brundle (The Orkney Museum).
Please check again soon for updates and for details on how to book your seat.
www.jorvik-viking-centre.co.uk/25years.htm
Speakers already confirmed include Peter Addyman, Richard Hall (Deputy Director, York Archaeological Trust), Patrick Wallace (Director, National Museum of Ireland), Anne-Christine Larsen (Vikingeborgen Trelleborg, Sydvestsjællands Museum, Denmark), Ellen Marie Næss (Museum of Cultural History, University of Oslo) and Anne Brundle (The Orkney Museum).
Please check again soon for updates and for details on how to book your seat.
www.jorvik-viking-centre.co.uk/25years.htm
Wednesday, 7 October 2009
History Cookbook
Welcome to the history cookbook. Do you know what the Vikings ate for dinner? What a typical meal of a wealthy family in Roman Britain consisted of, or what food was like in a Victorian Workhouse? Why not drop into history cookbook and find out? This project looks at the food of the past and how this influenced the health of the people living in each time period. You can also try some of the recipes for yourself. We have a wide range of historical recipes from Brown Bread Ice Cream to Gruel (Why not see if you would be asking for more - just like Oliver Twist).
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Monday, 5 October 2009
Rune in Norway dates to 400 AD
The first rune stone discovered in Norway since 1947 dates to about 400 AD and may contain a grave, archaeologists in the city of Mandal said.
The rune discovered last week in a garden in Mandal has several lines cut into the stone's face, but the style of writing appears slightly different from previous finds and is more difficult to decipher, The Norway Post reported Friday.
One sentence beginning "Ek Naudigastir" -- I Naudagistr -- is believed to be a man's name. A larger stone under the rune may be a grave. Another grave from the same period was discovered on the same property years ago, the Post reported.
Read the rest of this article...
The rune discovered last week in a garden in Mandal has several lines cut into the stone's face, but the style of writing appears slightly different from previous finds and is more difficult to decipher, The Norway Post reported Friday.
One sentence beginning "Ek Naudigastir" -- I Naudagistr -- is believed to be a man's name. A larger stone under the rune may be a grave. Another grave from the same period was discovered on the same property years ago, the Post reported.
Read the rest of this article...
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